Born: February 7, 1899 – Karangahake
Died: November 21, 1927 – Auckland
Test record: 4 Tests (1919) – 1 try (3 points)
Tours: 1919 tour of Australia, 1921 tour of Australia

Auckland forward Bill Williams played all four Tests in New Zealand’s 1919 home series against Australia, and made two tours of Australia with the national side.

Playing for Newtown Rangers in the ARL club competition at just 16, he was still a teenager when he debuted for Auckland in 1918.

The following season, he played in 10 of the 11 matches on New Zealand’s tour of Australia, scoring two tries in the closing win over Toowoomba.

Williams subsequently lined up in the second-row in all four matches when the star-studded Australian side visited later in 1919. He scored a try in New Zealand’s sole win in the Test series, a 26-10 upset in Christchurch.

Returning to Australia in 1921, Williams featured in the New Zealand pack in seven of nine tour matches and scored a try in a 25-12 win over a strong Queensland team.

Williams retired from the game early and died aged just 28 in a sailing accident.